The Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball League is extremely excited to say WELCOME BACK! Again thanks to our major sponsor Richardson Pioneer for making this league possible for our 6th season. As Government restrictions on sports and recreation begin to ease on the 30th of May, the league can get back to the game we love.

Richardson Pioneer Wadena Manager Chris Bartram said “Richardson Pioneer is excited to be returning as the title sponsor for the 6th consecutive year of the Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball League. It will be very exciting to watch play resume after being away from organized sports due to the pandemic. The times of Covid -19 have been met with many cancellations, regulations, and questions about what life may look like as Covid -19 subsides. As outside restrictions are lifting we start looking at the summer with optimism and excitement. We are excited to sponsor a league that brings joy to the players and spectators alike, because community is what its all about. Above all in this 2021 season Have fun, Stay safe, and Play ball!”

So, beginning May 30th the teams of the RPMFL – The Fishing Lake Cubs, Foam Lake Merchants, Rosebud Royals, Rosebud Jr. Royals, Balcarres Bronx, Neudorf Posse, Wynyard Blues and the defending Champion Rhein Rockets can get underway. The league is truly becoming a staple in East Central Sask as games will be held in these communities as well as Ituna, Sheho and Leslie Beach.

Please come enjoy an exciting game that this league offers on a nightly basis (note that any covid restrictions at that time will be followed by the league and its participants and spectators). The league would also like to welcome back Western Cycle Source For Sports in Regina as a Conference Sponsor, if your company would like to support local sports our other conference is looking for a sponsor.

Mike Jordan
RPMFL President

League standings schedule stats and more can be found at http://richardsonpioneerfastball.ca/ and upcoming games include:

SAVE THE DATE: June 30 and July 1, 2022. It may be two yeas late but we have booked New Zealand again for 2022. We have full intentions of running a full reunion for the Rosebud Royals Alumni, friends, family, fans and even foes. Details are to be determined but we will update everyone on this site when we know more.

Rhein Rockets Win the League in dramatic fashion!

Playoff MVP Evan Neibrandt and Terry Peppler. (Pictured accepting award from League Website Sponsor Scott Comfort RE/MAX Blue Chip Realty).

Game two was a back and forth game. After 2 scoreless innings Dave Renkas broke it open with a Solo HomeRun in the bottom of 3. The teams each got one in 4 with Veteran Terry Peppler pitching himself out of a bases loaded 1 out situation with two backwards K’s. The jr Royals then took the lead in top of 6 with 4 runs putting them to 5-2. Rhein answers back with 1 in 6. And after Terry Peppler shut down the Royals in the top of 7. In the bottom of 7 the Royals gave up one then with Rhett Reeve and 2 out in second Brett Peppler launched a Walk off Home run to win game 2.

With the Series tied at two the Modified best of 3 would be decided in a sudden death extra inning style game.

With a runner on second to start the inning the JR Royals the managed to load the bases. Clean up Hitter Carter McLean hit a long fly ball to second and Logan Schultz scored on the Sac Fly.

In the bottom of the inning With Adam Neibrandt on Second Evan Neibrandt hit a line drive triple in the gap to tie the game. Jr Royals gave Reeve and Peppler their bases to create a force play at home. However with Aaron Rathgerber up a wild pitch reached the screen allowing Evan Neibrandt to score from 3rd and claim the Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball League Championship.

Rhein joined the league in 2018. They lost in the Finals in 2018, Semi Finals in 2019 before reaching the Pinnacle of the league this year into he back of Veteran Terry Peppler that pitched most of the Playoff Games Including every inning of the final.

The Pitching matchup in the final showed the diversity of age in the League with Peppler being 43 years senior to Royals Pitcher Koby Faubert.

Jr Royals had a great season and have proven to be a strong team despite being all teenagers. The team has been in the league since it’s inception only clamming 2 wins in the first 3 years. They continued to work hard and develop to the point where they had a 5-6 record in 2019 and knocked off the 2018 Champs is the playoffs. This year the boys had a winning record and were 1 out away from the League Championship. The Jr Royals have nothing to hang their head about and will be a force in the league in 2021.

Past winners of the league:
Wynyard Blues 2018 and 2016
Stoney Creek Braves 2017
Rosebud Royals 2019

Past MVPs:
Mike Jordan
Dusty Keshane
James Holowaty

Jr Royals take lead in Richardson Pioneer Fastball League

Rosebud JR Royals win 3-1
Over Rhein Rockets

WP Koby Faubert
Hr Evan Neibrandt Rockets

Friday night at RE/MAX Diamond in Wadena saw a intense ball game 1 of the Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball Finals. Veteran Pitcher Terry Peppler from the Rockets and 16 year old Koby Faubert didn’t allow many base runners all game in a low scoring battle. The Royals came out on top with error free defence and a great display of “small ball” to score some of their few base runners with bunts, stolen bases and Clutch hits.

The Royals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 3rd but Evan Neibrandt quickly tied it up with a solo home run in the top of 4. The Royals speed was showcased in the bottom of 6 with Carter Petersen getting a lead off bunt single Between 3rd and the pitcher and a stolen base, followed by a 0-2 single by Luke Scutchings. Scutchings was able to reach 3rd off a stolen base and error and Lucas Ochitwa’s scored him on a groundout to 2nd to take the lead 3-1. Royals shut the Rockets bats down once again in the top of 7 for the win thanks to pitcher Koby Faubert and solid defence by the teenaged Royals.

Game 2 In Rhein 2:00 Saturday.

Game 3 if needed to follow extra inning Sudden death format.

Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball League Semifinal 2:

7-0 Wynyard Blues def Rosebud Jr Royals WP Mike Jordan.
6-3 Juniors won game 2 WP Koby Faubert
1-0 game 3 WP Koby Faubert.

Like all of the League’s Playoffs Series’, this was a Modified Best of three with game three as an international rule sudden death game.

In the extra inning style game 3 each team started with a runner on second base. The Royals Kaden Fedak advanced the runner with a groundout to SS. Next up Luke Scutchings hit an RBI fly to right field before Mike Jordan shut the door for the Blues. In the bottom half of the inning the Royals Koby Faubert shut the Blues batters down with a Strikeout followed by two ground-outs

Richardson Pioneer Men’s Fastball League
Final series dates (modified best of 3):
Friday at 6:30 in Wadena. 7 inning game.
Saturday at 2:00 in Rhein. 7 inning game. One-inning game 3 if needed would happen at the conclusion of game 2.

The League Final will feature a proven Rhein Rockets team having won 1st place in the league and been around the Men’s Fastball Circuit for year against a young team that has improved in the ranks every year of the leagues existence. The Jr Royals are made up of all U19 (formerly Midget Aged) and would have been competing for another Provincial Championship this year but with those cancelled this league title will be their last competitive games of the year.

Pictured: Royals pitcher Koby Faubert (age 16) in the Semi-Final Matchup against Wynyard Blues August 9th 2020.